Ramsey County

April 30, 2007

Howdy!!!!
Summer is here???????  Don’t let this nice weather fool you.  It might be here to stay or it might not as our average frost date is the middle of May.  So if you planted some plants or planted some garden that is susceptible to frost be prepared for the just in case scenario.  I know it is very hard to sit back and wait with weather like this but use your own judgment.  I am really looking forward to the perennial season and am looking forward to those that come and stay put and those that think they need the whole back yard to grow.  If I have some of those this year I am going to make them wish they would not have done that and knock them off.  I do not like spreading perennials as that takes another day to clean and to keep clean and my days during the spring and summer become very busy.  Speaking of busy I have water in our fish pond and should have water running in the system by the weekend.  I have had to make some adjustments along the way and am looking at two more adjustments today, in the river, to make this system work like I hope it can.  It has already been fun watching the birds coming in for a drink or washing themselves during the day.  The yard has become much noisier the last two days.  If I can make this all come together, with water flowing, then will come the hard work of landscaping, which means hauling in dirt to level and seed grass.  Any volunteers would be great full.

With the coming of summer also means all the trees and shrubs will also be sending out their new growth.  There has been questions about galls on the leaves of oak, ash and maple with the answer being unless you have lots of money I would not treat the trees for this insect.  The leaves have tiny little bumps on them and even though cosmetically does not look good they should not hurt the tree any.  Another problem we have had in the past has been Rhizosphaera needle cast in our spruce trees.  I just finished talking to the Mike Kangas (Forest Health Specialist)  and he suggests that unless we get much moisture beginning the last week of May and the first couple weeks of June we should not have to spray for this fungus.  This fungus affects only the new growth and unless we have wet/humid conditions we should be o.k.  He also mentioned that we many not build up a resistance to the fungicides we are presently using and that giving them a break , weather permitting, might be a good practice.  We will keep you posted, of course, depending on the weather.

Calendar
          July 17             Carrington Field Days
          July 18             North Central Field Days
          July 19             Langdon field days  

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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